Post Processing help

[H@rry]

I have a Nikon Coolpix 880 and I can't get the colors right. I know I need to get a better camera and probably will but I first want to work with post processing to see what I can do with that.

I've been using all the auto functions (brightness, contrast, color enhance, white balance, sharpen, etc.) and while they help it still looks pretty pitiful. I've tried the balance and curves functions with the sliders and numbers and get pretty frustrated with them. I have to admit I don't know what I'm doing. I want to be able to adjust the photo to accurately depict what the eye sees without misrepresenting the colors. All of the reading on post processing that I have found has been slanted to taking pictures of people, animals, sunsets, etc.

Can anyone point me to some reading that discusses working with coral under Metal Halides?

TIA
H@rry

 

[Robb in Austin]

Can you preset the WB in the camera?

 

[H@rry]

I can preset the WB or choose from auto or 4 or 5 more setting like fluorescent, incandescent, cloudy, etc. I've tried them all without it making much difference.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

As I understand it, he can't choose color temperatures or any of the other more advanced white balance settings. He also can't shoot RAW format. What editing program did you have in mind? Photoshop? MS Paint? We need to know what your using so that we can help you help yourself.

 

[H@rry]

I have Gimp, Photoshop CS3, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom, MS Picture Manager, Irfanview, and MS Picture It.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Wow I don't even have all that stuff, I would say your good to go. Photoshop CS3 is a godsend. You can do just about anything with that program and enough patience. While I have used CS3, I'm still a dinosaur and own Photoshop 5.5 it's time to upgrade!

Do you know who to use Photoshop?
Explain to me how you would edit your "Anctic" picture in Photoshop, and post the result. I'll try to fill in the blanks.

 

[MCary]

Photoshop has over 5000 functions and commands. I cannot tell you how to post process a picture without knowing what the problem is that you are experiancing. You have the tools for sure. My workflow goes like this, if I can remember without doing it. And this is all as needed and I'm leaving out some stuff that is complicated, like sharpening for source vs sharpening for output. First I adjust exposure. This is done with exposure sliders, not light&dark commands. Then I white balance. This is not necessay much with my 30D and 5D, but if its necessary, I do it. If I'm under artificial light and if I have time and forethought I take one picture with a gray card. I got gray cards from adorama. I adjust WB by clink on the card with the eye dropper. I then adjust color. You can adjust colors by channel, not just RGB. If you have a blue tint and nothing else is blue, go to the blue channel and desaturate. Then use curves for contrast. Then resize and sharpen. I use lightroom mostly now, but that is how I used photoshop. If you truly want to get DEEP into photoshop, then do this. Buy a program that records streaming video. Get a subscription on www.lynda.com for $25/month. Record a bunch of lessons, cancel subscription, watch recordings.

Mike